HBO Renews 'Real Time With Bill Maher' For Two More Seasons

Bill Maher‘s HBO series is sticking around not only for the upcoming presidential election but also for the following mid-term one. The pay cable network has signed a new three-year deal with Maher. As part of that, HBO has renewed Real Time With Bill Maher for 11th and 12th cycles. The pickup will keep the talk show on the network through 2014. “Bill Maher’s irreverent wit and fearless insights make him the perfect observer for these unpredictable times,” said HBO programming president Michael Lombardo. The renewal also will give Maher more shots at the oh-so-elusive first Emmy Award for the show after 27 nominations and zero wins to date. In its current 10th season, Real Time averages 4.1 million viewers per episode in gross audience, the highest for the series in three years, which is understandable given the fact we are in an election year. Real Time is executive produced by Maher, Scott Carter, Sheila Griffiths, Brad Grey, Marc Gurvitz and Billy Martin.

I love the sound of conservative heads exploding with rage in the morning.

NotQuiteRight • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

Conservatives don’t care about Maher the way Liberals care about O’Reilly. The talking heads may comment on it because that’s how they make money, but I guarantee no one in the heartland is spitting any coffee over anything Bill has to say. It’s a side effect of having real, consequential things to worry about.

Personally, I miss the old “Politically Incorrect” Bill, who wasn’t just a one-sided shill. He used to be a master at pissing off everyone in a charming, clever way, but somewhere along the path to success he lost his balls and took the easy route.

Republican from Kansas • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

If heartland conservatives have “real, consequential things” to worry about, then why are they spending so much time worrying about women’s bodies and same sex marriage? You think they’d be worried about their own bodies and lives, and not the bodies and lives of others.

Conservatives don’t get upset about Bill Maher because hardly anyone even knows who he is. O’Reilly is on basic cable, and so he has a larger audience. An apter comparison would be conservatives getting upset over MSNBC — and they do. Or have you not heard the term “lamestream meadia” lately?

Queen B • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

It’s not that “they spend so much time worrying about women’s bodies and same sex marriage.” They’re worried about the bodies of the babies inside women’s bodies, who are about to be murdered, and the about babies who will be adopted by same sex couples and forced into an unnatural environment (unnatural as in men can’t impregnate other men and women can’t get pregnant by other women because our species cannot naturally pro-create that way, ergo it’s unnatural).

And how exactly do you know that conservatives don’t know Bill Maher? My guess is that you don’t know. Are you a reporter or researcher? You get your “data” from media outlets like everybody else. The notion that liberals are smarter or better-informed because they watch CNN and read the LA Times is absurd, elitist…and a figment of your imagination.

Conservative from Kansas • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

I didn’t say anything about liberals being smarter or better-informed. You just did.

Nor did I suggest liberals watch CNN (as if that would demonstrate being smarter, anyhow) or that they read the LA Times. Again, that was stuff you brought to the table.

I am suggesting that conservatives do make many claims about media being liberally biased. Because they do.

And I’m also suggesting that, based on Q scores, very few people actually know who Bill Maher is. His score is slightly higher than Charo’s. Bill O’Reilly, on the other hand, has a pretty big Q score for a news guy on a cable network. He has the highest, in fact, just edging out Anderson Cooper.

To answer your other question: Yes, I’m a researcher. No, I’m not a reporter. And I do rely on my research (and that of colleagues) to know that both liberals and conservatives worry about the media and that both liberals and conservatives are ill-informed.

Now if you don’t mind, I’d like to spend the rest of my night enjoying my unnatural relationship. It blows my mind that you consider my relationship a “real, consequential thing to worry about.”

RexM • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

Bill Maher IS God!!!

mylord • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

If Bill Maher is God and Bill Maher is an athiest – does that mean he doesn’t believe in himself?

Bob Diamond • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

Great retort..very cleaver!
Bill Maher has the unique qualities of being a great interviewer, listener and allows his guests to finish there sentences even when their views are divergent from his. Obviously doesn’t feel threatened and more secure in his own skin than Bill O’Reilly who doesn’t let you get a word in edgewise for your politics are different thanks his…that is unless your name is Dennis Miller.
Love the show and look forward to it every week!

BD…..Boca Raton

Jim H • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

Yaaaaaaaaaaay!!! His show is the most honest discussion of politics in the world–and he’s that unique personality who can pull it off (and infuse humor as well).

Shari • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

I couldn’t be happier. I really don’t watch anything on HBO but Real Time and Curb Your Enthusiasm, so HBO keeps me as a customer for a little longer!

paul davies • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

Mr. Maher is one of the only voices of reason in modern news related media. He has the cojones to say with conviction that no one knows why we’re here, so don’t just make s**t up and sell it as fact. People are trusting by nature and needy by lack of intelligent nurturing, in other words ripe for spiritual raping. It’s difficult to think for ones self when so much emotional nonsense is spewed from self important charlatans.
I’m just saying…

The one thing I would ‘fix’ is to make the opening monologue a few minutes longer. And maybe have a few republicans who come on and don’t spout the GOP talking points — that might be asking too much, however.

Friday nights @ 10 PM continue to be must see TV for me. Hardly ever miss the live show, despite the fact that I DVR everything else.

Lord Eugene Pepper-Hickory • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

So it’s OK for the Dems to spout the Dem talking points but not OK for the few GOPers he invites to do the same?

M.O.D • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

This is fantastic news! Bill is phenomenal at what he does and he brings us an intelligent, fact based discussion every week. In times like these, a voice like his is very important! Congrats to both Maher and HBO for continuing to bring us new episodes!!!!

HenryO • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

I think he’s a prick.

Ramona • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

Best news I’ve heard all day. Honest, REAL conversation frosted with spontaneity and humor are what only Bill Maher offers.

AtticusDraco • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

‘
It’s so adorable when leftist get giddy with excitement
“Bill’s a good 1 percent’r”

Annette • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

I would care, if I subscribed to HBO.

Crazy 8 • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

So why’d you bother to open the article and then take the time to comment? Really tired of the, “Who cares?” types in comment sections. Waste of space.

Good move by HBO. His base is loyal and his ratings don’t fluctuate all that much. Should be interesting to see the numbers in Oct./Nov., however.

PitifulPeacock • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

Maher used to be funny, lost his fastball, gets by now on an admixture of bile, misogny, and a clockwork-like sliming of all the predictable targets, in ever more predictable ways. Sad.

Anders • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

Fantastic news.

Josh • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

Hopefully one day HBO makes the “HBO Go” app an online subscription service like Netflix and Amazon Instant Video so more people can see great shows like Real Time With Bill Maher.

bonnie • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

Sometimes I feel his “high” makes him think some jokes are much funnier than they are those of us sober, but ‘Real Time’ is a must-see in our house and was my Trojan Horse to engage my daughter in politics and current affairs. Happy HBO renewed it!

tom r • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

hbo is still at their top of the game with shows like curb your enthusiasm, game of thrones, but my favorite is real time

Rlynh • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

As long as HBO produces hour-long series I like to watch, I’ll avoid all the Maher segments, because I think he is a total shit. When they stop producing those series (Um, “Luck” anyone?), I’m gone, because I can get movies anywhere. By the way, I’m particularly a Palin fan, but I think “Game Change” was a fustercluck.

Get rid of the political commentary, HBO, or die a slow, ignoble death.

Rlynh • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

Drat. Should have been “NOT particularly a Palin fan”.

Lapper • on Apr 24, 2012 9:50 am

I use to admire the old savvy Maher who knew both sides were blowing smoke out of their asses. Sadly, he’s morphed into a hateful name calling ninnyhammer. And, he still owes Sarah Palin an apology.